Check-identifying machine.



B. H. HEBERN.

CHECK IDENTIFYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00114, 1911.

1,126,463. Patented Jan. 26,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I WITNESSES I lNVENTOR H I ATTORNEY B. H. HEBERN.

CHECK IDENTIFYING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED 00114, 1911.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTO RN EY HE NORRIS PEIERs CO.. PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. H. HEBERN.

CHECK IDENTIFYING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 0013.14, 1911. 1 1 26,463,

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES 60 INVENTOR L AX/W 7.

ATTORNEY HL NORRIS PrEP= "0., PHOTO'LITHO WASHING roN. D C.

E. H. HEBERN.

CHECK IDENTIFYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00121 1, 1911.

1,126A63. Patented 52111.26, 1915.

SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Cf BY 37% MUJKM:

m vww ATTORNEY 'HE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTG-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. C.

llll l'ltilllrlllfi @TATES PATENT EDWARD H. HEBERN, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, .ASSIG-NOR, BY

TO H. & H. PATENT-DEVELOPING- GOMPA RATION OF CALIFORNIA.

lVl'ESNE ASSIGNMENTS, NY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPO- CHECK-IDENTIFYING ll'IACI-IINE.

Application filed October 14, 1911.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. HEBERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Check-Identifying lvlachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for perforating or otherwise marking paper, particularly bank drafts, certified or other checks, letters of credit, and the like, said perforations or other marks being so arranged as, by their position on the paper, to communicate only to a person possessing the same or a similar machine the amount of the draft or check, or other information relating thereto, or any other information which it is desired to communicate by means of the paper.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine for effecting the above ends which shall be simple in construction and contain comparatively few parts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved machine; Fig. is a vertical longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a horizontal section on the line t-Q: of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. (3 is a transverse vertical section; Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical portion of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, the casing 1 of my improved nachine comprises, formed in one piece, side walls 2, a rear end wall 3, front end wall t, and a lower extended front portion 5 having side walls 6. Said casing also comprises a bottom 7, having feet 8 and a central longitudinally extending apertiiui'e 9, which is closed by a slidable door 10. It also comprises a die frame 11, con sisting of a base 12, side walls 13, and a die 14.

Vi thin said casing is a punch frame, com prising upper and lower longitudinal bars 17 and 18, connected by vertical end bars 19 and 20. lhrough hearings in said vertical bars slide longitudinal or horizontal punches Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915. Serial no. 654.681.

41 arranged in vertical series. Suitably secured by screws to said frame and inclosing the space therebetween are vertical side plates Extending vertically through longitudinal slots 23 in the upper bar 17 are key plates 24;, upon the upper end of each of which is a k y 25, suitably marked, as here lnafter described. Each key plate has in its upper portion an outward bend or oilset 26, and the plates on opposite sides of the punch bars extend forwardly and rearwardly respectively. They are so formed in order to permit the upper portions of the key plates to be spaced far enough apart that the keys may be placed thereon, notwithstanding that the lower portions are close to the opposite sides of the punch bars. Each plate is normally maintained in an upper position by a spring 27, one end of which is fixedly secured to a screw 28 screwed in said top bar 17, while the other end is s cured to a screw 29 passing through the upper portion of the plate. Each slot 23 is considerably longer than the width of the key plate, so as to permit said key plate to have a longitudinal or horizontal movement when it is depressed. This horizontal movement is imparted to said key plate by means of slots 30 therein, which engage stationary pins 31, 32, secured to, and extending transversely and horizontally, one, 31, from the top bar, and the other, 32, between the two side plates. The lower portions of these slots are vertical, so that no horizontal movement is imparted to the key plate during the first part of the downward movement thereof, but the upper portions of said slots are inclined upwardly rearward, so that, as said upper portions pass said pins, the key plate is given a forward as well as a downward movement.

Each key plate is formed with vertical recesses 33, 31-, one, 33, in the upper portion of the key plate, and the other, 3%, in the lower portion thereof. These recesses are formed with straight vertical sides, and they receive respectively tongues 35, 36, formed at the upper and lower portions respectively of a corresponding punch plate 37, said tongues fitting snugly in said recesses. Each punch plate is formed in its lower portion with a short horizontal or longitudinal slot 38, through which passes a pin 89, which passes through the lower longitudinal bar 18 of the punch frame. The tongues 35, 36, can slide vertically in the recesses 33, 3%, and, in the normal position of the punch bars, said tongues are in the lower portions of said recesses.

From the foregoing description it will therefore be apparent that, if a key plate be depressed, it will, during the latter part of its movement, also move longitudinally because then the pins 31, 32, engage the oblique upperportions of the slots 30, and, on ac count of this horizontal movement of th key plates, the punch plates will also m horizontally a corresponding distance Through the front and rear end bars 19 and 20 can slide a vertical series of punch bars ll, each punch bar having a horizontal series of pins 42 extending therethrough and projecting on both sides thereof in front, each of an adjacent punch plate. From the front edge of each punch plate extends a projection l? formed with an upwardly extending recess all, adapted, when the punch plate is assembled in proper position relative to'the other parts of the apparatus, to engage a pin 42 on one or the other of the punch bars. Said projections extend from the front edges of said punch plates at various positions thereon vertically, the vertical positions of the projections on the punch plates being in no way related to the horizontal positions of the pins on the punch bars. In other words, while, for instance, the punch plate corresponding to key No. l is shown as engaging a pin on the second punch bar from the bottom, it might equally well engage a pin on any other punch bar, except that each punch plate engages a pin on one punch bar only, and each punch bar has only one pin engaged by a punch plate.

' Each punch plate has secured at the bottom a head L6 by which it can be withdrawn and transferred to another position on the same side of the punch bars, so that it is actuated by a key plate having a different key, and yet the recess 414E engages another pin 4-2 of the same punch bar.

It is evident that when any key has been depressed, and is raised again by the action of the spring 27, not only is the key plate raised by said spring, but the punch plate and the corresponding punch bar are retracted.

The punch frame is secured in the casing 1 by means of pins 50 extending forwardly from the rear end of said casing, and entering sockets 51 in the rear bar of the frame. A guide plate 52 rests against the ends of vertical walls 53 of the casing. Its top and bottom rest respectively against upper and lower ribs or bars 54 extending transversely of the machine is a guide having an undercut groove 61. In said undercut groove can slide the bottom of a check carrier 62, in the form of an open rec tangular frame, the lower portion of said check carrier being beveled or flaring downward to fit snugly in said guide. Supported on said check carrler 1s a clamp plate 63 to whichv are secured forwardly extend-- ing bars 6ft which pass through tubular extensions 65 in the check carrier, and have collars 66 secured thereon against which press springs 67, said springs also pressing against the bottoms of recesses 68 in said extensions 65.

The front ends of the bars are secured together by a rail 69. By means of said springs said clamp plate is normally pressed closed to said check carrier, but, when it is desired to insert a check between the check carrier and the clamp plate, said head is pressed rearwardly, against said springs, so as to move the clamp plate away from the check carrier a suiiicient distance to permit a check to be readily inserted therebetween, and then, upon pressure being withdrawn from the head the clamp plate is pressed against the check carrier, clamping the check therebetween. Said check is now in a position to be punched by one of the punch bars corresponding to a key.

Upon the forward or punching movement each punch bar is adapted to pass through the check, and into a suitable aperture 70 in the die plate 14 and ahard facing 72 thereof.

Upon depressing a key 25, a perforation is formed in the check, the position ofwhich, transversely of the check, varies according to the vertical position of the punch bar which was actuated. This vertical position,

however, as before explained, bears no definite relation to the position or order of the key which was depressed.

It will be seen that the punch plates are the parts of the operative connections between the keys and the punches which determine the locations of the punches actuated by the depression of the several keys, and therefore these locations may be changed, to change the cryptographic key of the machine, by interchanging the punch plates.

When pressure is withdrawn from the key 25, and the punch bar has also been withdrawn from the check or other paper to be marked, the check or paper is automatically advanced so as to present for perforation by another punch bar a fresh area or zone of paper at a suitable longitudinal distance from the first area or zone. This is efiected by the following described mechanism. The rear edge of each key plate is formed with a recess 74 having an upper shoulder 75. Into the recesses in the two punch plates exactly opposite each other on two sides of the machine extends an arm 7 6, secured to a sleeve 80 on a longitudinal shaft 81 having its rear end supported in a socket formed in a forwardly extending lug 83, on the rear wall of the casing and its front end having its bearing in a bracket 84 extending from one side of the casing. Said front end is recessed, as shown at 82, and receives a shaft 85 extending through the front wall of the casing and having secured thereon, outside said front wall, a head 86. Upon the depression of a key plate on either side of the punch bars, the corresponding arm 76, and therefore the sleeve 80, will be rotated through a corresponding angular distance.

1 Upon the front end of said sleeve 80 is carried an arm 87, upon which is pivoted a pawl 88 pressed by a spring 89 against a ratchet wheel 90 loose on the shaft 81.

Upon the depression of a key plate, the pawl 88 slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 90, but when the key plate returns under the action of the spring 27, the sleeve 80 is automatically turned back again by a coiled spring 98 around the shaft 81. One end of the coil spring is secured to said sleeve and the other to the lug 83. The arm 87 extending from the sleeve 80 is turned and the pawl 88 engages said ratchet wheel and moves the same through a uniform distance. Said ratchet wheel has secured thereto a clutch member 95 which engages a clutch member 96 on the shaft 81, through which clutch member 96 passes a pin 97, which passes through a slot 98 formed in the shaft 81, and then enters a socket 99 formed in the inner end of the shaft 85. There fore when, by the return of the key plate, the ratchet wheel 90 is rotated through a comparatively small angle, the shaft 81 is rotated through said angle. To said shaft is secured, as shown at 100, a pinion'101 which engages a rack 102 moving in a slot 103 formed in said guide 60 said rack being secured to the check carrier. Thus, by the depression and re-ascent of the key plate,

the check carrier and check are advanced. a

distance depending upon the magnitudes of the connecting parts, and the check is in position for a second perforation. When all the perforations have been made, the check carrier 62 is returned to its initial position ready for perforating another check, by pulling out the head 86, so as to withdraw the clutch member 96 from the clutch member 95, and then turning the shaft 81.

On being presented for payment at a bank, the perforations in the check or draft are used to indicate the amount to be paid, or the age, height or other characteristics of the payee, in the following manner. The check is placed in a check carrier or similar instrument. The shaft 81 is then turned by the head 86, and the check carrier, with the check therein, is advanced. The guide plate 52 is formed with a vertical slot in which is secured a strip 107 of non-conducting material, said strip having a series of apertures 105, at the same levels with the respec tive punch bars, and in each aperture is a sleeve 106. Within each sleeve is contained a coiled spring 108 pressing against a ball 109. Opposite to the vertical series of balls is a vertical suitably insulated conducting strip 110. The respective sleeves are connected to wires 111, which are connected to sockets 112, which can be interchangeably connected to plugs 113 connected by wires 114, which wires lead each to the terminal of a lamp 115, from the other terminals of all of which lamps leads a wire 116 to one pole of a cell 117. From the other pole of the cell a wire 118 leads through a switch 119 to the conducting slip 110. The lamps 115 are supported in sleeves 120 secured in the top of the casing 1, and transmit their light through windows 121 in said top, said windows being marked, as shown at 122, with numerals or other characters similar to those on the keys to which they are respectively adjacent. The check being advanced between the vertical series of balls and the conducting strips, when a perforated portion of said check passes therebetween, a circuit is closed between the ball at the level of the perforation and the conducting strip. Thereupon the corresponding lamp is made incandescent, and the light thereof, shining through the corresponding window, brings into prominence a numeral or other character marked thereon. tions with the lamps are so arranged that the numerals or characters illuminated are those which correspond to the keys which were depressed to make the respective perforations. By this means the amount and other matters relating to the check can be identified.

When the punch plates are interchanged to change the cryptographic key of the machine, the connections between the plugs 113 electrically connected to the lamps 115 and the sockets 112 electrically connected with the ball contacts 109, closing circuit through holes at successive positions in the paper, must be correspondingly changed. For this purpose, said sockets are carried by a removable tray or box 12a slidable in the bottom of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, and having a handle 125 by which it may be withdrawn. It will be observed from Fig.

The electric connec- 1 7 that the characters illuminated by the several lamps are not arranged in the same order as the ball contacts corresponding to said characters. Thus while the first ball contact corresponds to the first lamp character, the second corresponds to the fifth, the third to the second, the fourth to the fourth, the fifth to the sixth, the sixth to the third, and so on.

For the purpose of enabling each key to be used to indicate more than one character, I provide a shift key 130 for each additional series of characters. The depression of this key in like manner as of the other keys, causes a perforation to be made in the paper, and this perforation causes a circuit to be closed through a check passed through the machine, the closure of which circuit raises to incandescence a lamp which is colored, or otherwise distinguished, indicating that a shift has been made from one series of characters to another.

A box 131 is provided for collecting the punched out parts of the paper, which box may be emptied from time to time.

I claim l. The combination of a series of keys, devices fixedly connected to said keys to be operated thereby, a series of punches, each punch having operating portions by any one of which it may be operated by a key of the series, and a series of intermediate elements corresponding to the series of keys, each adapted to be actuated by any one of said devices and adapted to be operatively connected with any one of said portions of a punch of the series, whereby any one of the punches may be exclusively operated by any one of the keys.

2. The combination of a series of keys, devices fixedly connected to said keys to be operated thereby, a series of punches, each punch having operating portions by any one of which it may be operated by a key of the series, and a series of intermediate elements corresponding to the series of keys, removable without removing said devices or punches, each adapted to be actuated by any one of said devices and adapted to be operatively connected with any one of said portions of a punch of the series, whereby any one of the punches may be exclusively operated by any one of the keys.

8. The combination of a series of keys, devices fixedly connected to said keys to be operated thereby, a series of punches, each punch having operating portions by any one of which it may be operated by a key of the series, and a series of intermediate elements corresponding to the series of keys, each adapted to be actuated by any one of said devices and each having a part, variously located for the different elements adapted to be operatively connected with any one of said portions of a punch of the series, whereby any one of the punches may be exclusively operated by any one of the keys.

4;. In combination with a row of punches, a support for a sheet of paper in front of said punches permitting said paper to move transversely to said row, a series of corresponding keys, and operative connections between the keys and the punches, whereby the actuation of each key causes a corresponding punch to be actuated, said connections comprising parts determining the location of the punch actuated by each key, said parts being interchangeable for the several keys.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a key,- a key plate secured thereto, means for deriving a transverse motion of the key plate from longitudinal pressure imparted to the key, a punch movable transversely to the key plate, and an intermediate agency between the key plate and punch, transmitting the transverse movement of the key plate to the punch and engaging both said key plate and punch with out being secured thereto.-

6. In a machine of the character described, a row of pairs of contacts between which a sheet of paper is adapted to pass, the contacts of each pair being arranged to normally contact with each other but to be separated by a sheet of paper interposed therebetween, electric circuits through said contacts, lamps in said circuits, and characters arranged in a common or well known order and so as to be illuminated by the respective lamps, and the contacts corresponding to the several characters being arranged in said row in a different order from the characters.

7 In a machine of the character described, a row of pairs of contacts between which a sheet of paper is adapted to pass, the contacts of each pair being arranged to normally contact with each other but to be separated by a sheet of paper interposed therebetween, electric circuits through said contacts, lamps in said circuits, characters arranged in a common or well known order and so as to be illuminated by the respective lamps, and the contacts corresponding to the several characters being arranged in said row in a different order from the characters, and switches in said circuits, the conductors on one side of said switches being interchangeable with each other.

8. In a machine of the character described,

a row of pairs of contacts between which a sheet of paper is adapted to pass, the contacts of each pair being arranged to nor mally contact with each other but to be separated by a sheet of paper interposed therebetween, electric circuits through said contacts, lamps in said circuits, characters arranged in a common or well known order and so as to be illuminated by the respective lamps, and the contacts corresponding to the several characters being arranged in said my hand in the presence of two subscribing row in a difierent order from the characters, witnesses.

a box removably supported in said machine,

switches in said circuits carried by said box,

the conductors on one side of said switches Witnesses:

being interchangeable with each other. F. M. WRIGHT,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set D. B. RICHARDS.

EDWARD H. HEBERN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

